What Should I Pack for a Trek?

By David Reed, author of The Rough Guide to Nepal

Not as much as you might think. Bring what you need to be comfortable, but keep weight to a minimum.

Clothes should be lightweight and layerable, especially on long treks where conditions vary from subtropical to arctic. What you bring will depend on the trek and time of year, but in most cases you should be prepared for sun, rain, snow and very chilly mornings.

For an autumn trek around Annapurna (elevation range: 500-5,000m. [2,000-18,000 ft.]), for example, I would bring a breathable, waterproof (e.g., Gore-Tex) shell, a down jacket, a wool sweater or synthetic fleece, a long-sleeve shirt and a couple of short-sleeve ones, a pair of very lightweight trousers (women should substitute a calf-length skirt for these), fleece or sweat pants, shorts, maybe three changes of underwear, five pairs of socks (both thick and thin, to be worn in combination), a light- to medium-weight hat and mittens, and a sun hat.

You could, of course, bring more high-tech equivalents of these items; I just don't happen to own them. But the basic point is that you don't need a lot of clothes, and it's all right if what you have isn't fancy – you should see what the porters wear!

Now, if you're planning to go over about 4,500 meters [15,000 feet] in winter, or over 5,500 meters [19,000 feet] at any time of year, that's different. In that case you'll also need gaiters, crampons, an ice ax, and warmer everything. But on teahouse routes during the trekking seasons, you're unlikely to have to deal with unpacked snow or below-zero temperatures. A bigger concern will be staying warm in drafty teahouses.

For footwear, running shoes will suffice for most trekking situations, and serve as a good backup for evenings. However, hiking boots, by providing better traction, ankle support, and protection, will take you through a greater range of conditions. I prefer leather boots to synthetic ones, even though they're a bit heavier, because they're sturdier and easier to waterproof.

How good a sleeping bag you'll need depends on how high you go and when, and whether or not you're camping. A three-season bag should be adequate for most situations, but for nights spent above about 4,500 meters [15,000 feet] (3,500 m. [12,000 ft.] in winter) you'll want to have a four-season bag and maybe a liner too. I wouldn't be fussy about your backpack – just about any overnight-sized pack will do, so long as it feels comfortable. You can rent sleeping bags and backpacks in Kathmandu.

Finally, some odds and ends: a medical kit, toiletries (forget deodorant), TP, water bottle, iodine or filter for water purification, a small towel, a bandanna, a flashlight or headlamp, pocket knife, sunscreen (spf 30 or higher), sunglasses, extra stuff sacks and ziplock bags, matches, a sewing kit, a camera, something to read, a journal, and (optionally) a daypack and foam sleeping pad. Assuming you're doing a teahouse route, you won't need to bring food, although it's wise to pack a few emergency snacks.

Got all that? Good, now weigh it – if it's over 30 pounds, start jettisoning!